It’s Elias Vance, checking in from the garden. This time of year, I’m usually deep in harvest mode, but a recent conversation got me thinking about something a little more… unexpected. My neighbor, bless his heart, was venting about his utility bills. He mentioned his gas usage had been unusually high, even though his house has been completely empty for the past month while his family visited relatives. Naturally, his first thought was, “It must be a gas leak somewhere!”
While a gas leak is certainly a serious possibility and always the first thing to rule out for safety, it got me pondering if there are other, less alarming reasons for a seemingly high gas bill in an unoccupied home. It’s like finding an unexpected pest in the garden – sometimes it’s a big problem, but other times, it’s just a misunderstanding of how things work.
So, what could be using gas in a house with no one home?
1. The Obvious Suspect: Pilot Lights
Many older appliances, like water heaters, furnaces, and even some stoves and dryers, have a small pilot light that stays on constantly. This little flame uses a tiny amount of gas, but over a month, in a house with several such appliances, it can add up. Think of it like a slow drip from a leaky faucet – small, but persistent.
2. The Water Heater: A Silent Consumer
Even when no one is home, water heaters are designed to keep the water inside at a set temperature. If you have a gas water heater with a standing pilot light or one that cycles on to maintain temperature, it will continue to use gas. If the thermostat is set higher than usual, or if the tank isn’t well-insulated, it will work harder, using more gas.
3. The Furnace: Prepping for Your Return?
Many modern smart thermostats have a “vacation mode” or can be programmed to maintain a very low temperature while you’re away, like 50°F (10°C). However, if the thermostat was accidentally left on a regular setting, or if it’s programmed to gently bring the temperature up a few degrees periodically (to prevent freezing pipes, for example), the furnace could be kicking on.
4. Older Appliances and Inefficiencies
Older gas appliances are often less energy-efficient. They might use more gas to perform the same function as a newer model. If your neighbor has an older furnace or water heater, it might be less efficient and contribute to higher usage even with minimal operation.
5. The Human Element (or Lack Thereof!)
Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of how the meter is read or how the bill is calculated. It’s rare, but not impossible, for errors to occur. Also, if the house was only mostly empty, perhaps a pet sitter or someone doing a quick check-in might have inadvertently used an appliance.
What Should You Do?
If you suspect high gas usage, especially in an empty home, the absolute first step is safety.
- Check for the smell of gas: If you smell gas, leave the house immediately and call your gas company from a safe distance.
- Test your meter: If there’s no smell, you can try turning off all gas appliances and watching your gas meter. If the dial continues to move, it strongly suggests a leak somewhere.
- Call a professional: For peace of mind and to identify the exact cause, it’s best to have a qualified HVAC technician or plumber inspect your gas appliances and lines.
While I’m all about making our homes more sustainable and efficient from a gardening and lifestyle perspective, safety always comes first. It’s good to know the potential culprits, but when in doubt, call in the experts. Let’s keep our homes safe and sound, just like our gardens!